New Rochelle filmmaker Rudy Cecera's short film, 'Mabel's Dressing Room' was filmed in the New Rochelle Elks Club. Cecera is hoping to get the film into the Tribeca Film Festival.

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Rudy Cecera was ready to give up. Almost. After five years of writing, rewriting, and rejection, he finally had some uplifting news that there was a possibility his short film about Hollywood silent screen star Mabel Normandmight make it into a film festival. He just had to finish it, and there was one big obstacle: A set.

With no budget, Cecera, who grew up in the city, relied on word of mouth to find a building that could stand in for Mabel's 1914-era dressing room. One landlord wanted too much to rent his place; another building was too modern. He checked out the American Legion on North Avenue in ...